Morning, noon and night
Three random things I learned, or remembered, todayArchive for Science
Journey by Starlight
NIGHT
This award winning blog looks fascinating.
“Journey by Starlight” is the untold story of Albert Einstein’s imaginary journey across the universe.
“This is the story of a great journey that started with a great thought. One day in 1895 a boy looked into a mirror and wondered what the universe would look like if he could travel on a beam of light. That sixteen year old boy was Albert Einstein and that one thought started him on the road to discover his Theory of Relativity.”
Honey prevents wound infections.
NIGHT
Earlier I mentioned how honey doesn’t spoil. You never see fungus on top of a jar of honey. It has even been found unspoiled after 2000 years.
It therefore seems reasonable to assume it has antibacterial properties and may be useful in treating wound infection.
This seems to be the case.
Below is a link to a 1 minute podcast.
Dot Earth
MORNING
The New York times runs a fascinating blog……..
“By 2050 or so, the world population is expected to reach nine billion, essentially adding two Chinas to the number of people alive today. Those billions will be seeking food, water and other resources on a planet where, scientists say, humans are already shaping climate and the web of life. In Dot Earth, reporter Andrew C. Revkin examines efforts to balance human affairs with the planet’s limits. Supported in part by a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, Mr. Revkin tracks relevant news from suburbia to Siberia, and conducts an interactive exploration of trends and ideas with readers and experts.”
Orange peel – a new fuel?
MORNING
Maybe oranges might become a source of fuel.
“But the biofuel revolution continues to spur innovation and researchers around the world are uncovering alternatives to corn and sugarcane from which to produce ethanol. In Mexico, the newest discovery is ethanol derived from orange peel, which a group of students from the University of Guadalajara’s science and engineering division happened upon while researching essential oils……..”
Antioxidants
NIGHT
Antioxidants can bind free radicals in the body. This is good because free radicals are damaging to cells using an oxidation process.
Current research suggests antioxidants can prevent or delay some serious medical conditions such as arterial disease or cancer.
Vitamin C found in fresh fruit and vegetables is an antioxidant. There are many others.
How to avoid being killed by lightening
NOON
Lightening kills about 100 people in the USA each year. Most deaths occur outside eg on golf courses, athletic fields, in boats. Farmers are also at risk.
The link above tells you more.
The centre of the Earth
MORNING
Bet you don’t know what’s in the very centre of the earth?
Molten iron, apparently.
The above reference tells you about this and a bit about oil too.
Honey does not spoil
NOON
You never see a layer of fungus on top of a jar of honey as can happen with jam. Why? Why is honey so efficient in killing of microorganisms or at least preventing them set up home.
“Because honey is hydroscopic, it is extends the shelf-life of baked goods. They are less likely to dry out because the honey absorbs moisture from the surrounding air. If you want to try this out, bake a batch of cookies using sugar. Then make a second batch replacing half of the sugar with honey. To do this you need to reduce the liquids in the recipe by 1/4 cup for each cup of honey (because of the water in the honey… remember, about 19%) and reduce the cooking temperature by 25 degrees. See which batch survives longer.”
Here is a link to the possible reasons.
Einstein’s brain
NIGHT
Just following on from this afternoon’s posting, I remembered reading somewhere that Einstein’s brain had been studied in detail by a neuropathologist.
So, in morbid mode, I did a google search to find out the circumstances of his death and whether in fact his brain was anatomically different from the rest of humanity.
I found this:
LINK TO EVERYTHING THAT IS KNOWN ABOUT EINSTEIN
And then I found this:
WHAT BECAME OF ALBERT EINSTEIN’S BRAIN?
The mystery surrounding Einstein’s brain which was hidden and carted around the country for 20 years by a possessive pathologist, and the subsequent medical papers which eventually were published, is well worth a read.
Albert Einstein
NOON
At the age of 5, Albert Einstein was given a compass. This fascinated him. He seemed to become aware at an early age that the compass was telling him that there was an external force influencing the needle.
Would Einstein’s brain have developed in the same way if he had not been given that compass?
Who knows.
